The Bill for authorizing the President to lay, regulate,
and revoke Embargoes.

House of Representatives, May 29, 1794.

Mr. MADISON. did not accede to the principle of the bill. He did not see any
such immediate prospect of a war as could induce the house to violate the
Constitution. He thought that it was a wise principle in the Constitution to
make one branch of the government raise an army, and another conduct it. If the
legislature had the power to conduct an army, they might imbody it for that
end. On the other hand, if the President was empowered to raise an army, as he
is to direct its motions when raised, he might wish to assemble it for the sake
of the influence to be acquired by the command. The Constitution had wisely
guarded {434} against the danger on either side. Upon the whole, he could not
venture to give his consent for violating so salutary a principle of the
Constitution as that upon which this bill encroached.